When creating my task to score for a brass I did gain a lot from paying attention to these compositions and composers. Of course my focus was on Hans Zimmer and the ‘Gladiator’ soundtrack, in particular the piece called ‘The Battle’. Especially between 1’27″ to 1’52″ where the brass heroic, “preparing to attack” melody starts and later becomes a huge and powerful battle music. This piece is a great example of how a brass score should sound like. Brass instruments are great for battle scenes and were good in battle scenes. Great for adrenaline and drama on the screen. I did something similar when scoring a moment when Roger was running to hide in the crops. I tried to create a fast paced section to highlight Roger’s movement, and create tension of running away from danger but in “I can make it” attitude, not a prey.
My next influence was by the guy named Zack Hemsey and his music piece ‘Mind Heist’ for the trailer of ‘Inception’. This track is not on the CD with the soundtrack but it should definitely be there. This track had such an impact on me because of its aggressive feeling. It would be suitable for the Northwest clip if it wasn’t so modern. It reminds me a bit of Zimmer’s ‘Battle’. The whole thing is awesome yet one sound blows my mind. Like I mention in my next post it is a very powerful brassy dropping sound that is just mean. I think in my own way I use similar concept when creating tension and alerting the viewer by triggering few low mean brass notes.
This influence was I think somehow the most deep one even if the music is more jazz like. The music from this movie is with me for a long time and thanks to it I started to like the sound of a trumpet. I talk about Spike Lee’s Joint ‘Mo’ Better Blues’ from 1990. I especially like the piece also titled ‘Mo’ Better Blues’, which was composed by Branford Marsalis. In the movie Denzel Washington is playing it on the trumpet together with his quintet. I believe listening to this soundtrack made me a bit more knowledgeable about implementing brass in my music ideas.
There are many influences that I am not aware of especially by the music of older American movies or tv series that I used to watch. I can hear it in my score and I feel that it has 70′s or 80′s feeling in it. But it also matches this clip which is from 1959. One of that influences will be ‘The Streets of San Francisco’ with Michael Douglas from the 70′s and the theme composed by Patrick Williams. There are really nice brass sections implemented.
The last Influence is maybe just an addition but it has a really nice trumpet melody that is with me also for a very long time. It creates a battle flavour, heroic, a feeling of an oncoming enemy’s charge. Great for getting inspiration for making this task. Now it maybe seems not so great and mighty but this tune is a classic.
Bibliography:
Filmography:
Gladiator. (2000) [DVD] dir. R. Scott. USA: Scott Free Productions
Inception. (2010) [DVD] dir. C. Nolan. USA: Legendary Pictures, Syncopy Films
Mo’ Better Blues. (1990) [DVD] dir. S. Lee. USA: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
The Streets of San Francisco. (2009) [DVD] dir. D. Donnely, T. J. Flicker. USA: Paramount Home Entertainment
